The Yankees will move Gleyber Torres from shortstop to second base, manager Aaron Boone announced to reporters Monday (Twitter links via Bryan Hoch of MLB.com). The move is designed “to take some pressure off” Torres. Gio Urshela has the day off Monday but will get reps at shortstop down the stretch, beginning tomorrow, with DJ LeMahieu playing third base. Tyler Wade is at short today, with Torres at second.
The Torres decision comes a day after he made his 18th error of the season and his fourth in the past week at shortstop. Defensive metrics are down on Torres’ work as well. Defensive Runs Saved has him at minus-12 on the season, while Statcast’s Outs Above Average pegs him at minus-8.
There’s been talk of moving Torres off shortstop for some time now, but that chatter has picked up considerably since the beginning of the 2020 campaign. Torres made nine errors in just 320 innings at shortstop last season with poor defensive ratings as well. However, the Yankees stuck with him at the position and instead focused their offseason efforts on retaining LeMahieu and finding affordable arms to round out the pitching staff without exceeding the luxury tax.
Torres’ defensive struggles this season had already fueled speculation that the Yankees will be players in the offseason market for shortstop help. Today’s announcement from Boone would seem to cement that likelihood, as the Yankees don’t have an immediate heir-apparent who is knocking down the door to the big leagues. Anthony Volpe has broken out with an enormous season in the minors, but he’s still just 20 years old and has yet to reach Double-A. He could be an option by 2023 or 2024, assuming good health and continued production.
Urshela has limited experience at shortstop and is regarded as a solid defender at third base, but he’s not likely to step up as a long-term option there. He’ll turn 30 next month, making him older than a number of the free-agent shortstops set to hit the market this winter, and his offense has taken a step back in 2021 as well.
Corey Seager, Marcus Semien, Carlos Correa, Trevor Story and Javier Baez are all slated to reach free agency this winter, and it’s certainly feasible that some names will pop up on the trade market as well. The Yankees have about $130MM committed to next year’s payroll, per Roster Resource’s Jason Martinez, and an absolutely enormous arbitration class — headlined by Aaron Judge. Each of Gary Sanchez, Jameson Taillon, Joey Gallo, Chad Green, Urshela, Jordan Montgomery, Wandy Peralta, Luke Voit, Torres, Clint Frazier, Domingo German, Miguel Andujar, Clay Holmes, Jonathan Loaisiga, Lucas Luetge and Wade will be arb-eligible as well.
There will be some non-tenders and trades of players in that group, inevitably, which will lower the cost of that sizable class. The Yankees also managed to duck under the luxury tax in 2021, so they won’t be facing any penalties in 2022 — although with the CBA expiring, we can’t know precisely what the next iteration of the competitive balance tax will even look like. Regardless, it’s hard to envision a scenario where they slide Torres back to shortstop in 2022. It seems quite likely the Yankees will factor prominently into the offseason shortstop market, exploring high-end free agent options, short-term stopgaps for Volpe and creative alternatives on the trade market.
For the time being, the Yanks will hope that the new defensive alignment helps to turn the tides after a dismal 2-8 showing in their past 10 games. They’re currently one game back of the Red Sox and the scorching-hot Blue Jays, who are in a tie in the Wild Card standings. Both the Mariners and the A’s are just two games behind the Yankees.
The Yankees want to make him a shortstop, but he is a second baseman. He plays better as a second baseman then a shortstop. I guess the Yankees will try to address that position in the offseason by signing a shortstop. There are to be many free agents Correa, Baez, Seager, Semien, Story and others.
Hope the Mets don’t sign Baez. He and Lindor are troublemakers. They need to be separated.
Cubs fan chiming in…. Baez is the troublemaker and Lindor is guilty by association. If the Mets want to sell tickets, sign them both. If they want to win, keep Lindor and move away from Baez.
They have no choice but to keep Lindor.
What are you talking about?
You are not a Cubs fan, if you were an actual fan you know Baez is not a troublemaker.
I’m not saying Baez is a bad guy but he was on the Mets for like a month and already caused some trouble with the thumbs down thing so…
Baez would help NYY set some lovely strikeout records!
The mets will make the move that makes the least sense
Be in on every major free agent, miss out on all of them, extend James McCann for five more years.
I remember in the offseason when fans claimed McCann was worthy $70 million for four years. Good times.
I think they get kris Bryant. Now that iit no longer requires Cubs taking on pieces of zero use to them like jd davis and or dom smith !
Were these the same fans that gave ellsbury 7 yrs 150+ million or maybe said what a steal Hicks was at 70M ?
Do you need help? Did someone hurt you to make you this dense?
Lindor was well loved in Cleveland by everybody. So he goes to NYM and he’s a trouble maker? That just might make an unbiased fan wonder if the problem is with the Mets.
I heard from plenty of Cleveland fans that had problems with Lindor. I took it mostly as sour grapes but your assertion that he was well loved by everybody is totally false.
It is NOT totally false because YOU heard from PLENTY of Cleveland fans. Between sports news and YouTubers, it’s been expressed many times how loved he was in Cleveland.
Well, to be fair, you said “everybody”, so technically, yea, totally false. But as I mentioned, I took it as more sour grapes than legit criticism so I mostly agree with you in spirit. He does seem like a likable guy.
It seems there is a point between us that may be an agreeable compromise. =)
My bet is they will go after Seager (lefty) now that the Dodgers have Turner.
Honestly, NYY should see what KC would want in a deal for Mondesi. Sure, he’s as injury prone as it gets, but if the new strength and conditioning regime has managed to keep Judge and Stanton healthy for most of the year, it can’t hurt to at least inquire. And by the time he’s a free agent, Volpe will likely be ready for the show. Also, I’m surprised the Yankees haven’t really tried Gleyber at 3B. It would be far less demanding than SS and would “take pressure” off Torres.
They have Urshela at third who is better at that position.
Yeah but with their intention to move Urshela to SS for the remainder of the season they should just leave DJL at second since he’s a far better defender there than Gleyber. Urshela’s able to play SS at a passable level for the rest of the season. Either way, I guess after this season ends, Gleyber’s future in NY is an open question
Urshela is the new SS.
obviously, he won’t struggle and make a lot of errors and misplays.
I am enjoying this new Yankees brain trust that figures cycling their fielders to new positions will teach them to play better defense. It can’t be that they are all prepared for this move, it’s just the only thing they can do at this point to hope to change their luck like the guy at the casino who rotates his socks just because it’s the only change he could think of at the moment.
there should be a fit here… Start with Andujar, maybe Cortes or Gil., Voit sounds fair or Loisagna or Luetke… Yankee Royal trades are a big part of baseball history…
Why would they make a trade with all those good SS on the free market this off-season?
Any trade would probably start with both Voit and Gil. Andujar is probably a throw-in at best at this point. But they’d make a trade like this if Steinbrenner wants to pinch pennies, which could very well happen. Plus KC technically has 3 MLB caliber shortstops right now
Honestly, the primary issue I’d have w/ Torres is what happened to his power? 7 HRs in 400 ABs.. NY doesn’t have the ability to give him a few more years and see if they can fix this – my guess is he gets traded this offseason.
His ISO has been close to .200 in the 2nd half, so although the HR haven’t shown up yet, he seems to be demonstrating more normal power for him.
He’s 24. I’m amazed at the eagerness to trade him when his value is so low. You don’t have to pencil him in for 600 at bats in 2022. At a bare minimum, he can lefty caddy someone and pick up additional starts giving other infielders a day off. Entering the season, he was a pretty safe looking bet for a large handful of 3-4+ win seasons throughout this decade. Overcorrecting would be a mistake.
You very well may end up correct but I don’t see the Yankees going this route. The Yanks are always in win-now mode and I just don’t see turning him into a platoon guy and a backup infielder is going to work. He just makes too much sense to end up in a trade for a mid-level starter.
rhswanzey
I’m amazed at the eagerness to trade him when his value is so low.
=================================
As I’ve said elsewhere, I think the NYY made a mistake extending DJLM, when he and Torres play the same position. They should’ve either let DJ walk, or traded Torres.
But since that ship has sailed, they’d be crazy to trade Torres. As a RS fan, I’d be glad to gamble on him. Even throwing out the juiced 2019 season, he still had a very good 2018, at age 21. And he handled himself pretty well in AAA at age 20.
I don’t know what’s wrong, but the talent is definitely there.
the 38 HR season was 2019 with juiced balls (Gardner hit 28 HR that year too) and a lot of those were against Baltimore at Camden Yards into the first 2-3 rows in the power alley (doubles at most other ball parks). without the juiced balls, Gleyber has warning track power. once in a while he will get ahold of one but his HR swing he opens up too much instead of staying inside and hitting line drives up the middle and the other way. the 7 homers this year are low because he played through some injuries and also had a bad case of covid. his numbers will probably be around where Derek Jeter’s were (15-25 HR a year) but without the high on base percentage and base running speed (getting infield hits and turning singles into doubles).
A poor defender at short for the Yankees. Sounds familiar.
Two generational players with no support. Sounds familiar too.
Well played.
BMI = 27.0, overweight, let’s put him at shortstop. A lot of other teams have done that as well. Maybe that’s the new normal. Like hamstring pulls and calf strains and Achilles tears and knee injuries and ankle sprains and ego bruises and whistling on the base paths.
why BMI has little do with most athletes and was developed as a marketing tool.
BMI is ludicrous. If you are muscular you will have a high BMI.
Javier Baez, Francisco Lindor, Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, Dansby Swanson, Brandon Crawford, Wander Franco, Xander Bogarets, all of them are considered overweight by BMI, and all of them have extensive time at shortstop in their careers. Most of them have stayed healthy as well.
I agree, some of those guys are not that much above 25 and some are higher. I’m talking about likelihoods, and I believe likelihoods increase with BMI. There’s probably a too low BMI as well. Of course there are exceptions and shortstop is maybe the best place to find them because of increased athleticism at that position. I stand by my premise that there is a relationship between higher BMI and increased injury, it’s been studied substantially. I believe it to be a factor in the noticeable increase in injuries this year along with last year’s light season.
It probably more has to do with the sudden start, stoppage, and then restart of baseball and workout activities in March through late-July in 2020 as well as players not getting a full season last year and then being thrown directly into a full season this year rather than BMI. BMI doesn’t take into account muscle, which weighs more than fat. If you have a decent amount of muscle, you’re BMI will be high. BMI isn’t a good measure when you’re looking at athletes. It’s good if you’re just trying to lose weight.
But they do look at athletes and they know that higher BMI is associated with higher injury rates. There probably is a slightly higher threshold for athletes but not that much. My body fat was between 8% and 10% when it was being measured in my thirties. When I was lighter (185-190) it was lower then when I was heavier (195-200). I’m 6’2” so I’m right around the 25 threshold. I basically put on 10 pounds, mostly upper body, to play baseball in my thirties. But I’m sure it was not 1 pound of body fat, as it’s very hard to gain weight and maintain the same body fat percentage. The problem is that as the body gets heavier, work load is harder. Some body parts don’t change (ligaments, for example) and yet they bear greater strain to perform. Heart and lungs can only improve to a point and get blood and oxygen to muscles at the rate required. Otherwise, muscles break down and injuries occur. Ability to stay hydrated is finite as well. Adding to the load for all these components merely increases the chance of failure, leading to injury. That’s my take.
Teams used to be willing to keep an automatic out in the lineup if he was a good fielding shortstop. Even in today’s homer-happy league it’s still important have a SS who is at least average with the glove. Sure you can be a contender without one, but to me it’s still a significant need.
I said this on another post last week and I’ll say it again. The Yankees should target both of the Seagers, assuming Kyle’s option gets declined. Corey can play SS until Volpe is ready and Kyle can play 3B in the interim. Urshela would become a utility player who could start at 3B against lefties and come in as a late inning defensive replacement
Just wish he could hit again so I could sell all the grades rookies of his that I have
Torres has never really been a SS. I think he might have one minor league season where is fielding % was much above ~ .950. I think they were hoping that his offense would make up for his poor fielding. The .849 OPS in his first two seasons, makes his errors a lot more palatable.
That said, they needed to make this decision last winter. Had they decided that Torres was really a 2B, they could have jettisoned DJLM. Instead, they talked themselves into believing that Torres was a SS, and signed DJLM to age 37 contract.
Without the DJLM contract, they’d have an IF of Voit, Torres, and Urshela for $13M. That type of cost control would’ve made it a lot easier to pay for a real SS.
The Yankees always overhype young players. I don’t know how many “the next Mickey Mantle’s” have come up in their organization. Torres was supposed to be another Jeter. There’s enough pressure playing in NY without someone trying to put you into the HOF at the age of 21.
Many teams overhype their players in case they need to use them for future trades.. What do you expect a team to say, “Look away, our prospects stink.”
I always have to explain to the RS fans, that hate the RS, that teams do not overhype their prospects. Organizations like BA, MLB, FG, BP, etc., rank the prospects independently from the organizations they belong to. If Torres was ranked #6 by BA, that is because BA ranked Torres #6, not because the Yankees called them up and asked them to rank Torres #6.
“Thank you for calling Baseball America. Please press the number that you would like your prospect Gleyber Torres to be ranked. (Pause) You pressed six, is that the correct number? (pause) Thank you rating your prospect and saving us time. Have a wonderful day.”
As a Yankee fan, specifically commenting on your statement that Torres was suppose do be the next Jeter……NEVER heard that at all…..not in any NY tabloids or chat rooms…….fake facts from barelybreathin!
Gio Urshela, DJ LeMahieu and Anthony Rizzo make up the best defensive IF position players in MLB. Gleyber Torres’ bat doesn’t justify keeping him in the lineup. This is why Thairo Estrada should’ve never been sold. Andrew Valazquez may be the Yankees best option.
Are you kidding? Best infield position players in baseball?
Are you trying to say each is the best at their respective positions or collectively no team has three better?
Either way it’s silly.
Have you seen Arenado and Chapman? St Louis alone have a better trio but individually there are many better.
The best defensive team in baseball might just be the Padres. Machado, Tatis, Cronenworth, and Hosmer. Definitely top 5.
Please, check Tatis fielding metrics at:
baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/fernando-tatis-jr-665487?stats=statcast-r-fielding-mlb
TC:305 Errors:20
Ie.
Statcast Outs Above Average
STL IF trio is not better defensively than NYY trio. STL OF is very good too.
However, moving other players to their secondary positions just to accommodate Gleyber Torres’ bat makes no sense.
^a yank fan but not a baseball fan.
Wrong on both accounts.
This is insane. He’s def gonna be moved to the OF next year.
Where is he going to play with Judge, Gallo, Hicks, Stanton, Wade, and Anduljar? Moved off the team is the likelier scenario.
Well first of all Frazier is gonna get traded and then when they move Hicks for BULLPEN HELP it’ll make alot of sense.
Traded for who? The reality is possible that Frazier may never be able to play again. Moving Hicks who is coming back from surgery is going to require eating some salary. Why not just sign a reliever instead and see what Hicks has left?
Just a speed bump on his way to the HOF – some Yankees fans.
Urshella is batting 133 in his last 15 games he can have a seat
Torres an Sanchez value is down but now Yankees and fans are willing to package those two for another teams best player preferably a top 10 even top 5 one !
Future Hall of Famer status still active.
Yankees not signing any top free agents SS. DLM was a questionable resign and was brought back to satisfy most fans. I personally like DJL but not for 6 more years. Gio having a down year but not ready to give up on him. If Yankees let Rizzo walk it’s a mistake. Stanton needs to go and keep Voit. I’d trade Stanton to Texas they are ready to take on Salaries and spend money
The Yankees give guys 90 million dollars because they want some of their fans to be happy? Wow those fans who spend enough dollars to get a vote ought to get more press about what they are thinking the club should do for upcoming moves. I hope other teams don’t influence the fans to make bad decisions for the franchise. That would be a great security loophole if those fans were ever compromised in their grip on what’s really happening.
mlbnyfan is quite out of his depth on this one.
Trade Stanton to TX! You know he has a full no-trade?
If anything Voit may have to go if you keep Rizzo. Voit has been hurt quite alot in the last three years.
If anyone needs to go it’s the following, and in this order: Cashman and Boone; Heaney; Gardner; Odor; Nelson (in minors); Hicks; Voit
I would not have a problem with the following also going but I wouldn’t mind giving them one more year: Sanchez, Torres,
Overall, to me the main things the team needs is speed and more starting pitching.
What catcher ae you getting to replace Sanchez is the reason why Sanchez and Higgy will be back. I agree with all your other guys, need to go although me its Boone more than Cashman and add one of Urshela or Gleyber won’t be there and for the love of God Brooks Kriske.
One that can hit over 200.
Not quite as rare as you think.
Do you have any understanding of the very complicated term
No Trade Clause ?
That’s what I thought.
@mlbnyy DJLM was a 4-year deal spread out to 6 for luxury tax purposes. Yankees still have Voit if Rizzo walks. Do you really want another expensive, long-term deal for a player over 30 in Rizzo? And no Rangers aren’t taking on Stanton’s contract unless top prospects are packaged. DH’s are pretty easy to find. If the NL adopts it, his market further dwindles.
But even spreading out creates an issue for later on. Plus, imho, it makes him difficult to deal with in years 5 & 6. I don’t think he will look good at age 37, and I don’t think they will be cutting him.
@JoeBrady It definitely does and I don’t expect much in years 5 and 6 even before the season started. However, I can see them cutting him or he becomes the infield Brett Gardner.
Supply and demand classes are available online.
If the nl adopts the dh more demand equals higher prices.
BTW – Stantons no trade clause is why he never goes to texas.
Stanton’s contract is why he will finish his career as a Yankee.
What Adjustments Can They Make With Gleyber Torres,So That He Becomes A More Gold Glove Caliber Shortstop,Instead Of Continuously Booting The Ball & Throwing It Away?
How Much Of An Upgrade Would Carlos Correa Be Over Gleyber Torres?
What Team Should They Trade Gleyber Torres To,If They Were To Do So,To Make Way For Carlos Correa?
That is as likely as a few adjustments to Tyler Wade’s swing so he can become Barry bonds.
This way not be a popular opinion but I think the Yankees should get rid of Torres. His production this season has been completely unacceptable and it’s looking like he will never be what we were hoping. Perhaps a trade centered around him and a few other prospects for Ohtani. I highly doubt Ohtani will want to stay with the Angels who have been nothing but a laughing stock the past few years. If he came to the Yankees he would be the face of baseball.
Seager is not healthy but he would be my choice because he’s a lefty. Yankees originally should of kept Didi. Lefty bats help balance a lineup. Didi was also a good contact hitter. Getting Stanton instead of Yelich was the mistake. Yankees were upset when Ohtani chose Angels and needed to make a splash
Seager is actually healthy. He missed about half the season this year due to getting hit on the hand. His numbers this year haven’t been as good as last year’s regular season on a short sample plus the playoffs when he absolutely raked, taking home MVP for NLCS and World Series. He’s at his best when he lays off the low breaking pitches and hammers pitches up in the zone. Has doubles-leading potential and 25-30 HR power. At Yankee Stadium he’s probably 30-35+ HRs.
I’m sure they could get Didi back cheap.
Sure was smart to send Velazquez down right before this decision.
fwiw gleyber has always looked much more comfortable at second base. in 2018 he looked like an above-average defender (eye test disclaimer)
Keith Hernandez had the line of the year on Friday night’s Mets broadcast when he said that the Yankees defense was Pepe Le Pew.
Different position same subpar bat
Bo Bichette of the Jays is the same. How long before he gets moved to 2nd?
For the time being, the Yanks will hope that the new defensive alignment helps to turn the tides after a dismal 2-8 showing in their past 10 games.
“Ok, you’re standing over here now.”
And the rest was history.
Well, this IS the year to be shopping for a free agent shortstop ! Go Yanks ! Open that checkbook after resetting your penalty tax. Let’s do this this off-season! And maybe a starting pitcher or 2 or 3.
I hope the Yankees sign Baez I heard New York fans love him lol. I’d love to see the booing that will occur in Boston after Baez practically begged fans not to boo. I know he’s coming as a Met but it will be totally different as a Yankee he deserves it
Torres and Urshela up the middle sounds like a nightmare, but Cashman doesn’t really care too much about defense, so no worries.
Yankees should have moved Jeter as well after he slowed down
Trollers gonna troll. Don’t you get tired of being a clown?
I wonder if they can trade Gary and Gallo or if they just release them.
they should have left him at second base and re-signed Didi through this year so they can replace him with this year’s free agent class and traded Tyler Wade…. same as 2002, they should have kept Tino at 1B and DH’ed Giambi (where he ended up anyway) and traded Nick Johnson for pitching.
The Yankees have Volpe and Peraza coming so I don’t see the point in spending $20-$30 million a year for one of the stud free agents.
They can get by with an old school type who bats .280, can take a walk, bunt and play solid defense. A clone of Concepcion, Bowa, Belanger, Kessinger.
However I suspect Cashman will find someone who bats .180, strikes out 190 times but has a high launch angle, exit velocity of 110+ and last played short in little league. So basically Joey Gallo will play short next year.
Well, Seager does make sense long-term if they consider his play at SS for a few years, until Volpe or Peraza is ready (ready being the operative word).
By then, Seager will likely be ready to transition to 3B, where we will need a capable player.
Moreover, if history is any indication, they will go after Story because he will cost substantially less, unless Cash & Levine like Seager, in which case he will attain the $300mm club membership. Plus, don’t forget that it’s not all about offense as people are noting on Story above. He’s been one of the best defenders at SS in recent years, has power, ability to hit for average, and and he’s got speed.
In terms of Volpe/Peraza, the likelihood of both continuing their outstanding performance in MLB, and relying on that two-to-three years down the road isn’t very logical for a championship contender.
As an aside, Seager was a diehard Yankees fan growing up, so don’t be surprised if the interest is mutual (think Cole) and he chooses them over the rest of the group. Story was also a lifelong Yankees fan for what it’s worth.
For How Long Do The New York Yankees Need To Stay Under The Luxury Tax Threshold,In Order To Reset & Be Safe From Those Penalties,Does It Go Away,After The Regular Season Comes To A Close?
For How Long Do The New York Yankees Need To Stay Under The Luxury Tax Threshold,In Order To Reset & Be Safe From Those Penalties,Allowing Them To Open Up America’s Biggest Vault & Spend Big On Free Agents,Does It Go Away,After The Regular Season Comes To A Close?